Garand battle zero ?

[Metacomet]

I have a question for you guys along the lines of this thread topic. I'm just a casual shooter, doing my best to accurize my Garands as I go along. I picked up a CMP special grade Garand a while back from a friend of a friend; I haven't shot it yet. Here's the thing: The front sight is adjusted almost all the way to the right.

Can I re-center the front sight and somehow adjust the rear sights so I can line it up centered? How would I go about making the rear sight adjustments? Thanks again fellas.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

The front sight is supposed to be centered. The rear ideally should be centered too for shooting but some are a bit off. If it's off by much then your barrel is out of index, that is not top dead center. This happened occasionally and can be corrected. The rear sight can of course be adjusted left and right for minor moves with the windage knob(on the right).

[Metacomet]

Thanks for the info. Right now I'm just assuming the rifle is shooting point of aim with the front sight aligned all the way to the right. I'm betting it didn't come that way from the CMP and that the previous owner had it dialed in. I'm afraid of the barrel being out of index, but this is all just speculation on my part until I can get out to the range, of course.

One more question. Suppose I center the front sight and then the rear sight then needs 5 click to the right to be centered on target, is there a way to make that adjustment the center on the windage dial?

[Bob Seijas]

The front sight was set at the factory, and John Garand intended that all adjustments should be made from the rear sight. That's why a sight seal covered the front screw in early M1s. Competitive shooters who know what the are doing, however, sometimes adjust the front sight if it is too far off center.

[Wineman]

Mine was 12 clicks left of center for a NWZ. The barrel had to be reindexed and now it is 1 click of center for a NWZ. For 200 yards mine is 7 clicks up from the bottom shooting 110 grain Sierra HP's over 48 grains of Accurate 2495 and a CCI 200.

Dave

[browningautorifle]

I have found they seem to be out of index quite regularly, the ones that came from the Danes anyway. Not really the US guns. I have the wrenches and dial indicator, I just do them myself now. It doesn't take long and you can check everything at once then.

[Bob Seijas]

Sandwiches and Pinot Noir for lunch on he porch today... Rochioli Chardonnay to start, then:

Calera Ryan
Maritnelli Lolita
WH Smith Hellenthal

Chocolates and 2003 Graham port for dessert... can I go to sleep now? the Hellenhal was the clear winner, rated it 96, but the loser got 94

[browningautorifle]

Well done that!

[Wineman]

Bob,

Don't know the WH Smith. Years ago Dick Graff from Chalone (before the sell out) flew up to Eastern Washington and stayed with me. A really neat guy. The end result was the Canoe Ridge project. Unfortunately his life ended when he misjudged a landing at Chalone. Another Pinot I like is the Au Bon Climat from SB.

Dave

[Wineman]

It seems that most Euro/Soviet rifles have the "Battle Sight" set at the lowest sight setting regardless of range. Some early Garand drums have an arrow for the "Battle Sight" setting (275 yards). As I see it, the problem is to make a rifle that is KISS and can be used by the least trained individual and one that has potential for those with more ability. The M1917/P14 "Enfield" had a good set up: ladder down = Battle Sight (~400 yards), up you could go from 200 to 2000 yards. No windage though, but I have found that unless you are NOT being shot at, Kentucky windage is the best. It could have also used a thicker front sight.

Dave